Monroe Volleyball Opens Season with Sweep in Nassau C.C. Tri-Match

NEW ROCHELLE, NY --The Monroe College volleyball team got the 2015 season off to an auspicious start by sweeping a tri-match at Nassau Community College in Garden City, New York, on Saturday. The Mustangs defeated Community College of Rhode Island, 25-12 and 25-18, the beat Onondaga 25-6 and 25-7 and they prevailed over the hosts, 25-7 and 25-12.

Monroe vs. CCRI:

BOX SCORE

The Mustangs opened play with a sweep of CCRI. Monroe jumped ahead, 6-0 in the opening set. In those six point, Indira Rojas accounted for two with a kill and an ace. Ashley Ramos and Jourdan Hodge each tallied kills and the Knights committed a pair of errors. After CCRI got on the board and made it 6-1, Monroe used an 8-3 run to open up a ten-point cushion, 14-4. The lead got as large as 14 points when Rojas assisted Karen Souza for a kill that made the score 22-8. The Mustangs took the opening set, 25-12.

The second set also went to Monroe, 25-18. Once again, the Mustangs came out scorching, opening up an 11-3 advantage. Souza recorded a pair of kills and a service ace, while Neysha Gonzalez chipped in with a pair of aces. The largest Monroe lead came at 19-7 when Gonzalez found Rojas for a kill.

Rojas had 15 assists in the win. Ramos led the team with eight kills and six digs.

Monroe vs. Onondaga:

BOX SCORE

The second match of the day pitted Monroe against Onondaga Community College. The Mustangs prevailed in two sets, 25-6 and 25-7. Monroe opened play by scoring ten of the first 11 points to jump ahead, 10-1. In that stretch, Rojas had three aces while Cristen Coryatt had two. Coryatt had a kill while Souza killed a pair. The other three points came off of Lazers errors. Monroe closed out the set with a 15-5 run. Selena Drinks served the final point that was misplayed by Onondaga for an error.

The Mustangs jumped out to a 17-0 lead in the second set before Onondaga was able to get on the board. The insurmountable lead was too much as Monroe took the set 25-7.

Rojas finished the match with 12 service aces and eight assists. Souza had four kills while Cristen Coryatt had three. Gonzalez led the way with five digs.

Monroe vs. Nassau C.C.:

BOX SCORE

The final match of the day saw the Mustangs triumph over Nassau, 25-7 and 25-12. The opening set was back-and-forth early on as Monroe and the Lions were tied 3-3 after the first six points. A pair of assists from Souza and Gabriella Nobrega, combined with a Nassau error, put the Mustangs ahead, 6-3. They never looked back from there as they closed out the set with a 19-4 run.

The second set began with Monroe taking a 4-0 lead. Nassau responded with a pair of points, but the Mustangs rattled off five unanswered points behind the strong serving of Coryatt. The lions never threatened and Monroe went on to win 25-12.

The team is now 3-0 on the season. Their next regular-season game is scheduled for Friday, August 28, when they travel to Perrysburg, Ohio, to compete in the Owens Community College tournament. Monroe's home opener is slated for Thursday, September 17, against Queensboro. Action in that match starts at 7:00 PM from the Monroe Athletic Complex.